Spinach and ricotta Christmas tree
The perfect bake to add to your festive table.
There’s something special about sitting around a table, passing plates, sharing, participating and dividing food among one another that pulls people closer. Side by side, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, heart to heart, we’ve put together this bake for the festive table.
COOK TIME 45 minutes | SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
- 400 g fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) water
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 large eggs
- 250 g fresh ricotta
- 50 g Parmesan, grated
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 x 400 g rolls puff pastry, defrosted
- 1 large whisked egg, to brush
- white sesame seeds, to sprinkle
METHOD
FOR the filling, sauté the spinach with the water in a frying pan over medium heat, about 8 minutes or until cooked, but still tender. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, using either a muslin cloth or the back of a spoon and a sieve.
COMBINE the spinach, lemon zest, 2 large eggs, ricotta and Parmesan. Season generously. Preheat the oven to 200˚C.
UNROLL the pastry and place the 2 sheets on top of each other and cut out a simple triangle for the Christmas tree shape. Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a baking paper-lined baking sheet, and coat it evenly with the spinach and ricotta filling, leaving a 0,5cm border all around.
LAY the second sheet on top and cut even strips along the sides (about 2,5cm wide) for the branches. Twist each strip and press down gently at the end of the strip, so that the twist holds (try not to pull or stretch the pastry). Use the pastry offcuts to make a star for your tree, if desired.
BRUSH the tree with the egg wash and sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up, about 10-15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 190˚C and bake until golden in colour, 50 minutes.
Spinach and ricotta Christmas tree
Ingredients
- 400 g fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) water
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 large eggs
- 250 g fresh ricotta
- 50 g Parmesan, grated
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 x 400 g rolls puff pastry, defrosted
- 1 large whisked egg, to brush
- white sesame seeds, to sprinkle
Instructions
For the filling, sauté the spinach with the water in a frying pan over medium heat, about 8 minutes or until cooked, but still tender. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, using either a muslin cloth or the back of a spoon and a sieve.
Combine the spinach, lemon zest, 2 large eggs, ricotta and Parmesan. Season generously. Preheat the oven to 200˚C.
Unroll the pastry and place the 2 sheets on top of each other and cut out a simple triangle for the Christmas tree shape. Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a baking paper-lined baking sheet, and coat it evenly with the spinach and ricotta filling, leaving a 0,5cm border all around.
Lay the second sheet on top and cut even strips along the sides (about 2,5cm wide) for the branches. Twist each strip and press down gently at the end of the strip, so that the twist holds (try not to pull or stretch the pastry). Use the pastry offcuts to make a star for your tree, if desired.
Brush the tree with the egg wash and sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up, about 10-15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 190˚C and bake until golden in colour, 50 minutes.
Made this spinach and ricotta Christmas tree ? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram!
ALSO SEE: Christmas tree cakes
Recipes, styling and photographs by Katelyn Williams
Assisted by Cassandra Upton
Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine. www.imkawebb.com
